Message from fellow SCRAFAN member Thomas Luce:
NEWS RELEASE 9:00AM PDT SEPTEMER 20, 2009
contact:
Thomas D. Luce
Luce Publishing
Costa Mesa, California
(949) 631-1598
t.luce@att.net
Costa Mesa, CA. September 20, 2009. Thomas D. Luce Publishing is very pleased to announce their best seller “Memories of the California Jalopy Association” will go into second printing available beginning September 20, 2009.
The 2nd printing of this encyclopedic work has employed a new printing method to bring more detail to each and every image. As a result all 1,550 black and white photos virtually explode off of the 288 ultra glossy 8 ½ X 11 inch pages giving the reader almost the sensation of “being there” in person during the 31 years (1938-1969) that are reviewed through 20 heart pounding chapters. There is a thoughtful Foreword article by Mr. Parnelli Jones (a successful jalopy driver who went on to be crowned 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner), an Epilogue by the author, Thomas D. Luce, a jalopy “Hall of Fame” list, with action photos of “Lover Boy” Hogle, Wilkerson, Oskie, and more.
This book represents an incredible 14-year journey hunting down nostalgic memorabilia from former drivers, owners, officials, families, and fans who dug through hundreds of closets and garages. The combined information has proven timeless, as racing fans across the country have spoken loud and often saying it’s OK to go back in time, to be 21 again, and experience the joys of broadsliding a 1932 Ford through a turn on a quarter mile dirt track with eight other guys (“on your donkey”) all trying to beat you out of whatever position you were in.
This book documents Day-1 of legendary Southern California jalopy races in 1938 and its incredible one-in-a-million chance re-birth in 1948. The book then examines the 1950s in a year-by-year format, with spectacular Saturday night & Sunday afternoon action photos from all of the racetracks that hosted jalopy races such as Culver City Speedway, Huntington Beach Speedway, Carrell Speedway, Gardena Stadium, Orange Show Stadium, Balboa Stadium and from 22 others included in a list.
“Memories” further documents how a 1932 Ford could be bought for $5.00 and converted into a jalopy racecar, and, as the 1950s progressed they could be seen on local & national television with Bill Welsh and later with Dick Lane (Mr. Whoa Nellie!).
With the dawn of the ‘60s author/historian Luce documents the shift in equipment from flat head to over head valve engines, and the introduction on the West Coast of another form of racing, the wild, fabulous Figure-8 racer of Ascot Park, Gardena, who found the 1937 Chevy, among other cars was superior.
“This glimpse back at the jalopy years in So-Cal is just amazing…Termite, Parnelli, Frenchy, Hila and all the rest of them are back making noise and beating mightily on each other… The air is flat loaded with dust, dirt, smoke, and rubber and the crowd is screaming… And the announcer is bellowing WHOA NELLIE!”-Doug Stokes
“Memories of the California Jalopy Association” is available at $39.95 plus Handling and Tax (only if applicable). ISBN: 978-0-9729868-0-9.
The book is available from this respected list of retail outlets:
Thomas Luce (check or money order)
525 Victoria Street #33
Costa Mesa, CA. 92627
(949) 631-1598
t.luce@att.net
Toyota Speedway at Irwindale
Pit Area vendor-directly from Thomas Luce
Autobooks-Aerobooks
3524 West Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA. 91505
(818) 845-0707
www.autobooks-aerobooks.com
Wally Parks NHRA Museum
1101 West McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA. 91768
(909) 622-2133
Peterson Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA. 90036
(323) 964-6328
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame
One Sprint Capital Place
Knoxville, Iowa 50138
(641) 842-6176
www.sprintcarstuff.com
Coastal 181
29 Water Street
Newburyport, MA. 01950
(877) 907-8181 (Toll Free)
www.coastal181.com
So-Cal Performance
9723 Washburn Road
Downey, CA. 90241
(562) 862-9122
########################

First
|
Previous
|
Next
|
Last

Reply 1 to 1 of 1

Post Reply

You must be logged in to Post a Message.
Not a member register Here.
Already registered? Please Login